FAQ

InvestHK provides support to overseas and Mainland entrepreneurs, SMEs and multinationals that plan to set up an office or expand their existing business in Hong Kong. We offer customised and confidential advice and services, free of charge, to support companies from the planning stage right through to the launch and expansion of their business. You may also check out our "Case Studies" of companies that InvestHK has supported in their setting up or expanding businesses in Hong Kong.

Please check out our StartmeupHK website for information of some business angels, venture capitalists and corporate venture capitals to which you may contact directly to explore potential cooperation.

Our website at "Register the Business" provides general information about the costs, processing time and basic guidelines for business registration. You may also visit the Companies Registry website at www.cr.gov.hk/en/home/index.htm and the Inland Revenue Department website at www.ird.gov.hk/eng/tax/bre.htm for the latest information on company incorporation and business registration respectively. For further assistance, you are welcome to contact us via email to enq@investhk.gov.hk or submit your question(s) via our online enquiry form.

The Support and Consultation Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises (SUCCESS) of the Trade and Industry Department runs an online Business Licence Information Service which provides information on government licences, permits, certificates and approvals relevant to business operations in Hong Kong.  The service can be accessed at www.success.tid.gov.hk/tid/eng/blics/index.jsp.

Please check out our website at "Decide on a Company Type and Name" for general information about the common types of companies for different business requirements.  For further assistance, you are welcome to contact us via email to enq@investhk.gov.hk or submit your question(s) via our online enquiry form.

Non-Hong Kong residents may incorporate a local limited company in Hong Kong and may be appointed as a director of the company. However, the company secretary, who is a natural person, should ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. For company secretary which is a body corporate, its registered office or place of business should be in Hong Kong.

A private local limited company must have at least one director who is a natural person and one company secretary. The sole director cannot act as the company secretary of the same company.

Please visit the Companies Registry website at www.cr.gov.hk/en/home/index.htm for the latest information on company incorporation.

There is no requirement on the minimum amount of a company's paid-up capital under the Companies Ordinance.

You may check out our website at "Setting up in Hong Kong" which provides, inter alia, a step-by-step guide on setting up a business in Hong Kong. For further information, please check out our "Resource Centre" for a wide range of useful publications (e.g. brochures, guides, investment newsletters and sector-specific leaflets) and subscribe to our electronic newsletter to get relevant news, information and case studies sent directly to your inbox.

Hong Kong, a highly dynamic city that serves as the perfect platform into Chinese Mainland and Asia, is an ideal place for business in Asia.  Please check out the section “Why Hong Kong” on our website which features our city’s unique appeal for businesses, including our low and simple tax regime, world-class business infrastructure, government support for companies, and much more.

Please check out our website at "Business Locations" for some general advice on finding an office in Hong Kong.  If you intend to start your business in a co-work space, please check out our StartmeupHK webpage at www.startmeup.hk/startup-resources/shared-facilities for information of some shared facilities available. For further assistance, you are welcome to contact us via email to enq@investhk.gov.hk or submit your question(s) via our online enquiry form.

InvestHK maintains an online Service Providers Directory to facilitate our clients from overseas and Chinese Mainland in setting up or expanding their operations in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has been working closely with the banking industry and has launched a dedicated webpage (www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/smart-consumers/account-opening/) to provide useful information about bank account opening as well as a dedicated email account (accountopening@hkma.gov.hk) to receive comments and queries about  account opening, maintenance or updating account information.

You may check out our StartmeupHK website (www.startmeup.hk/startup-resources/government-funding-scheme-and-support/) for information about a number of government funding schemes available for SMEs and startups.  Alternatively, you may browse the GovHK Portal (www.gov.hk/en/business/supportenterprises/funding/index.htm) for general information about government support for local and foreign enterprises.  You may also approach "SME ReachOut", a dedicated service team operated by the Hong Kong Productivity Council, to seek assistance in identifying suitable funding schemes and advice on application.

Please visit our "Events" webpage for upcoming events organised, sponsored or supported by InvestHK. You can also find the lists of startup and Fintech-related events in Hong Kong on www.startmeup.hk/events/ and www.hongkong-fintech.hk/en/events respectively.

InvestHK is open to participating in international trade fairs and conferences to promote Hong Kong’s status as the leading international business location in Asia and to further our mission in facilitating and promoting economically and strategically important investment into Hong Kong. Parties wishing to invite InvestHK to participate in a particular event are welcome to share their proposal, with event details, date and venue, target audience, entitlements, proposed fee and organisation/company profile, by email to enq@investhk.gov.hk for our consideration.

The Talent List of Hong Kong has been drawn up with a view to attracting high quality talent in an effective and focused manner to support Hong Kong’s development into a high value-added and diversified economy. Please visit www.talentlist.gov.hk/en/index.html for information on the latest Talent List.

Please use the “Cost Calculator” on our website to get the estimated costs of setting up and operating an office in Hong Kong for general reference.

The GBA comprises the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao and the nine municipalities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing in Guangdong Province.  The combined population and productivity of the GBA represent a vast and vibrant economic force as well as enormous opportunities for foreign investors in Hong Kong.  Please visit the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau’s dedicated website on GBA for details.

Our Startups team helps founders of innovative and scalable startups from overseas and Mainland to set up or expand in Hong Kong by providing information about the startup ecosystem in the city, connecting people to the startup community, hosting startup events and helping to foster a positive environment for startups to thrive. The team provides a one-stop service platform to enable startups and scaleups to grow in Hong Kong and beyond. It also organises the annual StartmeupHK Festival which provides a unique platform for members of the startup community to exchange ideas and make connections.  Please check out our StartmeupHK website for more information.

As a well‐recognised premier international financial centre and wealth management centre, Hong Kong offers many unique advantages for family offices to operate and grow. With InvestHK’s one-stop-shop services, family offices set up here can enjoy a thriving economic environment in one of the top global cities. Please check out our Family Offices thematic website.

The New CIES Office, a new dedicated team under InvestHK, is responsible for assessing the financial assets and investment of the New CIES Applicants/Entrants as well as monitoring their continuous compliance of the relevant requirements, while the Immigration Department is responsible for assessing applications for visa/entry permit, extension of stay and unconditional stay pursuant to the Scheme.

Before an Applicant submits an Entry Application for a visa/entry permit to enter Hong Kong and/or remain in Hong Kong for residence under the Scheme (“Entry Application”) to the Immigration Department, he/she is required to first approach the New CIES Office of InvestHK for verifying whether he/she has fulfilled the Net Asset Requirement.

For further information about the application procedures, eligibility, net asset for the New CIES, please check out our New CIES thematic website. You are also welcome to contact the New CIES Office direct via email to newcies@investhk.gov.hk.